Welcome to Gympie Gold Regional Produce's Spring newsletter - your opportunity to find out about food news and events from throughout our wonderful region!

Gympie Town Centre Growers Market - held on the first and third Wednesday of the month - continues to blossom at Memorial Park in Gympie's Town Centre. The market is a central culinary meeting place for our local growers and processors to sell their wares, and for foodies to shop seasonally, catch a cooking demonstration and meet the farmers who grow their food. As we move into the warmer months, there are more themed days, tying in with special events or school holidays, to come. Market hours are 7am to 1pm.

Once again, we put the Gympie region on Queensland's culinary map with growers and producers showcased at premier food and lifestyle event, Regional Flavours at Brisbane's South Bank Parklands in July. For the first time, we hosted a pop-up cafe featuring delicious dishes inspired by our region and featuring local produce, seafood and meats. Our own Food and Food Tourism Ambassador Matt Golinski in residence at the cafe was ably assisted by hospitality students from the Gympie region.

Read on to learn more and visit the website to find out what's on in Spring. Happy food trails!

Lynne and Nicole

Above:  Putting Gympie on the map at Regional Flavours.

It's one Queensland's most iconic events attracting seafood lovers from all over Queensland. This year's family friendly Tin Can Bay Seafood Festival is sweet 16. The festival, which celebrates the region's seafood industry, returns this Saturday (September 24) from 9am-5pm.

Organisers expect up to 12,000 people to flock to the foreshore to indulge in seafood and take part in a host of activities. Entry is free.

Elise Henderson from the Tin Can Bay Seafood Festival organising committee says the festival will feature more than 100 stalls including fresh produce, clothing and bric-a-brac as well as live on-stage and roving entertainment, and competitions for mullet throwing, seafood mascots and prawn eating.

Look for Gympie Gold Regional Produce's stand where Food and Food Tourism Ambassador and chef Matt Golinski will demonstrate how to pair fresh seafood and produce. There will be five demonstrations throughout the day and each will feature a main ingredient from one of the local produce stalls.

Producers attending include Smithy's Crayfish Farm, Cooloola Berries, Lychee Divine, CC's Kitchen, Kilkivan Meats, Chris's Catering and 5th Element Coffee.

"There will something for the whole family. The main tent will serve hot and cold cooked seafood and sell fresh seafood," Elise says.

"Our popular BMX competition is back after taking a break last year, there will be rides, laser tag, competitions to get involved in and we'll be raffling a tinnie."

If you're heading to the festival, pick up a map at the information tent and plan your day or visit the festival website or Facebook page.

Above: Crowds enjoy sunshine and seafood at the annual Tin Can Bay Seafood Festival.

Gympie Town Centre Growers Market will celebrate our rich gold rush history with themed gourmet market days on October 5 and 19 as part of the annual Rush Festival which runs throughout October. Growers will put their chef's hats on to demonstrate delicious recipes using their own local fresh produce.

They will use an array of their own and other seasonal lines - with a helping hand from Food and Food Tourism Ambassador and acclaimed chef Matt Golinski. Watch the growers and Matt whip up some special creations designed to tempt your tastebuds.

The Rush Festival is a free annual celebration which recognises the discovery of gold in 1867. The establishment of Gympie city is celebrated annually so come and enjoy this iconic event!

The Rush Festival runs from October 1-31 and is jam-packed with cultural events including a film festival, art competition, concert and bush ballads. Read more>

Above: Catch a grower's cooking demonstration at the Rush Festival market days.

Three young people living with a disability who aspire to work in the hospitality or food industry will have the chance to assist chef Matt Golinski for the day at Gympie Town Centre Growers Market on November 16. The candidates will join Matt as he cooks and shares food sector insights.

Gympie's Disability Action Week Organising Committee has partnered Gympie Regional Council and Food and Food Tourism Ambassador and award-winning chef Matt to offer the exciting opportunity.

The event will celebrate the skills, abilities and talents of people with a disability, challenge stereotypes and recast people with a disability as contributing community members.

Training opportunities and career advice will also be available from local providers including hospitality and cookery teacher Darren Sandrini from the Gympie campus of TAFE Queensland East Coast.

Employment agency, Jobmatch Employment is sponsoring the "Imagine the Possibilities: working in the food industry" event with partial funding from the Department of Communities, Child Safety and Disability Services.

"The event is a new approach which encourages young people living with a disability to push the boundaries and think about what's possible. It extends activities for Disability Action Week which is officially from September 11-17," committee spokeswoman Fiona Neagle says.

"It's also a chance for young people interested in a food career to meet local producers and understand where their food comes from."

To register your interest in this opportunity, email Fiona or phone 0458 335271 by October 6. Read more>

Above: Three young people will have the chance to assist chef Matt Golinski for a day.

A new on-farm cafe inspired by the owners' fascination with chillies is packing a punch at Imbil. Susan Watsford and Lawrence Ryan are behind The Packing Shed cafe which opened in June.

Lawrence also produces a range of condiments harvested from chillies growing on the property.

Lawrence has been making his own sauces and chutneys for 30 years. Now, with about 10 varieties growing on the two hectare property, he has an endless supply. His delicious condiments spice up the cafe menu and are sold through shop attached to the cafe.

Formerly of Peregian Beach, Susan and Lawrence moved to the area to realise their dream of running an on-farm cafe. The Packing Shed is a 40-minute drive south of Gympie.

"We've always loved chillies - the hotter the better - and it's wonderful to be able to use them in the cafe and shop. They are grown using organic methods. Eventually there will be a chilli-inspired special dish," Susan says.

The menu features breakfast and lunch options prepared from locally sourced fresh ingredients and air-roasted coffee. The cafe at 3360 Mary Valley Road opens from 8am to 4pm Thursday to Sunday. It's also dog friendly. To book, phone (07) 5484 5295. Read more>

Above: The Packing Shed caters for up to 50 people at a time.

The family behind Widgee beef producer CGL Beef is living up to its clean, green and lean image.

Warren McEwan and Karen Jarling established CGL Beef in 2010, inspired by Warren's family background in beef cattle and prompted by a debilitating illness attributed to chemical sensitivity.

"We were already teetering on a no-chemical approach when Warren became ill. He's been well ever since we adopted the sustainable farming practices we're known for,"  Karen says.

CGL Beef has a base herd of 120, supplying chemical-free and grass-fed finished beef direct to the public via its online store.

The cattle - predominantly purebred Brahmans or Charbray females crossed with an Angus bull - are raised near Lake Cootharaba, near Noosa, an hour away from home.

"We breed from the same line of mums, grandmas and aunties that Warren's family started with 30 years ago. We've selectively chosen our mums because they are independent, protective and have genetically good udders. Our cattle only ever eat grass and pasture which results in good levels of Omega 3, zinc, and iron and produces a sweet, tasty and consistently tender product. Many young families like our own buy from us because kids prefer lighter, sweeter beef."

CGL Beef sends up to 40 head a year to Nolan Meats, Gympie. The yearling beef is sold in a choice of three packs. Customers can either pick up or have their orders delivered.

CGL Beef has also ventured into supplying paddock-raised whole chickens to the public. Bought as day-old chicks from Beerwah, the chickens are raised in mobile pens rotated around the home farm paddock, processed at Moya Valley Poultry, Imbil and supplied frozen.

"The Sunday roast chook was on the drawing board for some time until we made it happen. Grown outdoors with natural sunlight and being allowed to forage means the birds have Vitamin D and good muscle tone, resulting in chicken meat with an actual chicken flavour," Karen says. Read more>

Above:  The CGL Beef team, Warren, Jonte, Karen and Hamish.

Gympie Gold Regional Produce is a network of passionate and supportive producers.

Members enjoy the benefits of marketing, networking and business opportunities throughout the region and beyond. To join the network visit our website or call us on 1300 307 800.

If you're visiting our region and want to know where to go or what to see, visit Destination Gympie Region's website to find out more.

It's easy to stay in touch. Follow us on Facebook or Twitter or visit our Pinterest gallery.  Phone Economic Development Manager, Lynne Wilbraham at Gympie Regional Council on 1300 307 800 or email Lynne. We love hearing from members and foodies!